Water massage aerator apparatus

ABSTRACT

A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressure into water. The apparatus includes an elongated tubing passage that is shaped for positioning in a bath container and includes holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage. A nozzle is connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes. The tubing passage comprises a plurality of tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections. The tube sections have a structural configuration to provide orientation and alignment of the spaced holes to inject air under pressure to the interior of the bath container each time the apparatus is assembled. Securing means such as suction cups are connected to the tubing passage for attaching the apparatus to the inner surface of the bath container.

United States Paten [is] 3,683,899 1 Aug. 15, 1972 La Barber [541 WATER MASSAGE AERATOR APPARATUS I [72] Inventor: Joseph A. La Barber, Kern City,

Calif. [73] Assignee: Henry Weiland, Hacienda Heights,

Calif.

221 Filed: Sept. 1, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 68,741

Related u.s. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 658,816, Aug.

7, 1967, Pat. No. 3,533,404.

2,848,203 8/1958 Misiura ..l28/66 UX 727,425 '5/1903' Von Orth ..128/66 ux 2,921,579 1/1960 Munroe ..l28/66 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp 'Attorney'-Markva and Smith [57] ABSTRACT A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressure into water. The apparatus includes an elongated tubing passage that is shaped for positioning in a bath container and includes holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage. A nozzle is connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes. The tubing passage comprises a plurality of tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections. The tube sections have a structural configuration to provide orientation and alignment of the spaced holes to inject air under pressure to the interior of the bath container each time the apparatus is assembled. Securing means such as suction cups are connected to the tubing passage for attaching the apparatus to the inner surface of the bath container.

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sum 2 OF 2 BYDZZMV MMMZQK AT] UR NEYS WATER MASSAGE AERATOR APPARATUS RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 658,816 filed Aug. 7, 1967 and now US. Pat. No. 3,5 33,404 by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art devices such as whirlpools and thelike are well known for injecting streams of water that have a massaging effect on the body of the user. These water injecting devices provide a relaxing and soothing effect that may have many uses. Several disadvantages are attendant these devices, however. They are quite expensive and have a complicated structure that normally requires a particularly designed tub or bath container for receiving the water injecting equipment and for correctly directing and containing the injected water.

There are also hydrotherapy devices which use a blower or compressor apparatus to force air through a tubing passage into the water of a bath container or tub. Apparatus of this general type are fairly well known in the prior art. However, when a tubular passage structure is used to accommodate a size such as a bathtub, it is so large and awkwardly unwieldy as to be quite cumbersome for handling or storage purposes. That is, it constitutes an undesirable eye sore when it is not positioned in the tub. That is, it is generally ex-.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved water massage aerator bath apparatus that utilizes plastic pipe that is light and noncorrosive and that may be easily dis-assembled and stored in a compact package.

It is still a further object of this invention to overcome any disadvantages that may be associated with 7 this general type of water massage apparatus.

tremely difficult to store or conceal in an ordinary container or enclosure when not in actual use.

The prior art has attempted to overcome some of the disadvantages associated with the storage of such a ring structure. It has been suggested that a tubular passage be equipped with a hinge structure so that thepassage may be folded and placed into a storage container. It is noted, however, that the use of such a structure presents a limitation with regard to the size of the container which may be used. That is, the container must still be sufficiently large to accommodate the folded tubular passage. Furthermore, there is limitation that the tubular passage may fit only a certain sized or shaped.

tub. It is well known that there are many different shapes of bath containers available to the consumer. In addition, there are many different shapes of bath .containers which are used by the consumer. The hinged tubing passage such as is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,267,936 cannot be adapted to such a varied scope of bath containers. That is, it is not a very versatile type of apparatus.

. PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention to provide an air injecting device which is versatile and readily adaptable to various sizes and various shapes of tubs or bath containers used by consumers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus that may be inserted into a bath tub or other bath container and used by persons in their homes to provide a beneficial massage effect,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The tubing passage formed by the assembly of tube sections substantially conforms to the configuration of the outer side walls of the tub. Since the tubing passage comprises a plurality of disconnectable tube sections, many different shapes of tube sections may be connected one with the other to adapt to any particular shape or size associated with the bath container. Another feature of this invention is that the tubing passage includes a structural configuration which provides an orientation and alignment of the spaced holes in the assembled apparatus to inject air under pressure to the interior of the bath container. This orientation and alignment of the holes to positively direct the air into the interior of the bath container is important because it provides the maximum beneficial effect of the air as a massaging medium within the liquid of the bath container. A special type of structural configuration is used in specific embodiments of the apparatus which provides corresponding contact surfaces between joined sections of tubing thereby causing the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled.

The air supply may be provided by the blowing side of any known vacuum cleaner that is normally already available in the users home. The electrical power unit of the vacuum cleaner remains outside of the bathtub in a remote position with the air hose being the only connection to the tubing passage in the water. Thus the user need not fear the danger of having something electrical present in the water. Accordingly, through the use of this invention, a gentle pulsatory massage type movement of the air and water is created in the water. Thousands of soft, tiny air bubbles are directed at the limbs of the body of the user exemplifying the feeling and the effect of a massage by hundreds of fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention installed in a bath container,

FIG. 2 is a section view of one end of the tubing passage along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show different embodiments of means for connecting a plurality of tube sections,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tubing passage made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tubing passage of this invention, and

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing how the embodiment of FIG. 10 is joined together.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS more specifically, a tubing passage, generally designated 10, comprising a plurality of tube sections 16, 17, 18 and 19 and rigid coupling units used to connect said coupling tube sections. The tubing passage 10 is shown located in the bottom of a bathtub, generally designated 12, having an upper edge surface 5, sides 13 and bottom 14. The tubing passage 10 is secured to the bottom of the bath container 12 with suction cups 24. In this specific embodiment, the tubing passage is composed of plastic or other similar material and the rigid coupling units 20 are made of the same type of material. The tube sections l6, l7, 18 an 19 are joined together with the coupling units 20 with a tight slipfit as is well known in the prior art. The two end tube sections 16 and 17 are joined together by a coupling unit 21 which includes an upwardly directed air inlet nozzle 22. The nozzle 22 is capable of receiving and being selectively connected to the connecting hose of a vacuum cleaner supply 26. The vacuum cleaner 26 will generally receive electrical power through a normal electrical connection 26a.

Air holes 23 are spaced on the tubing sections l6, l7, l8 and 19 to provide air injection nozzles for forcing air into water 11 located in the bath container 12. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the air leaves the holes 23 and substantially covers the volume of water contained in the bath container 12. The air thus disturbs the water 1 1 by having thousands of soft, tiny air bubbles that are directed inwardly and upwardly in an action to substantially encircle and cover the limbs and torso of the user. This creates disturbance in the water 11 that provides the massaging effect, as is well known in the prior art. The tube sections 16, 17, 18 and 19 have a square cross-section as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. The square shape of the tubing assures that when the tubing sections 16, 17, 18 and 19 are coupled together, the air injecting holes 23 are correctly oriented and aligned in the direction that provides the maximum beneficial massaging effect.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air holes 23 located in tubing sections 16 and 17 begin at the curved point at the outer ends of the sections 16 and 17. That is, the holes 23 are displaced some distance from the inlet coupling 21 thereby assuring that the air received by the inlet coupling 21 is allowed to pass through the entire tubing passage 10 which includes tube sections 18 and 19 without having an excessive loss of air through holes in or immediately adjacent to the inlet coupling 21. Another important feature of this invention is that the holes 23 located in the tubing passage 10 have a capacity to allow all of the air from the air supply 26 to pass freely into the interior of the bath container 12. This full air capacity feature provides additional efficiency in the entire massage apparatus, thereby allowing the air supply 26 to operate at its peak performance.

Further specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the remaining figures. The most important aspect of this invention is that the tubing passage 10 comprises a plurality of separate tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections. The tubing passage 10 has a structural configuration to cause the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled. Rigid coupling units 20 in this specific embodiment have a square cross-sectional shape. Different types of coupling units 20a, 20b and 200 are shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, respectively. The structural configuration of the tubing passage 10 includes contact surfaces 28 and 29 located on the connecting means used to assemble the tube sections. The contacting surfaces 30, 31 as shown in FIG. 6 and 32, 33 as shown in FIG. 7 are mated to cause the tube sections to fit into the coupling units with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled. FIG. 8 shows an assembled tubing passage using the coupling unit 20a for the assembly of the tubing passage. It is seen that the suction cups 24 may be placed either on the coupling units or along the tube sections.

A more particular feature of the securing means is shown in FIG. 9 wherein the suction cup 24 is fixedly attached to the tubing passage 10 with a threaded screw 27. It is desired to have the threaded screw 27 composed of a material that is non-corrosive to prevent a deleterious effect on the structure of the apparatus when it is submerged in water or any other type of liquid.

A further embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein the tubing passage includes U-shaped tube sections 35 and 36. The tube sections 35 are connected by the coupling 21. This provides a structural configuration which causes the tube sections 35 and 36 to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled. The coupling units 34 are integrally formed into a one-piece structure with the tube section 36. In this particular embodiment, the suction cups 24 are attached directly to the tubing passage.

In operation, the apparatus of this invention is .received by the user in a disassembled form in a relatively small package. The tubing passage 10 is assembled in an easy and understandable manner by the user by merely connecting the various tubing sections together with the appropriate coupling units. Once assembled, the tubing passage 10 is inserted into the bath container 12 and the suction cups 24 are pressed against the bottom 14 of the bath container 12. It should be recognized that the assembled device can be secured to the bath container 12 before it is filled with water 11. The inlet nozzle 22 is sufficiently long to project above the surface of the water 1 1, even though the bath container 12 may be filled to capacity. The vacuum cleaner air supply 26 is connected to the inlet nozzle 22 by way of a normal hose attachment 25. When the vacuum cleaner 26 is energized in a normal manner, air is caused to pass under pressure through the hose 25, inlet nozzle 22 and through the various sections of the tubing passage and out the air nozzles or holes 23.

ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION The basic advantages of this invention when compared to prior art devices are that it may be stored and handled in a much smaller package than heretofore possible. Furthermore, the apparatus is much more adaptable to various sizes and shapes of bath containers which are commercially available. These advantages are obtained through the use of the simple construction of the various tube sections which may be disassembled after use. Since the invention includes particular structural configuration for orienting and aligning the holes every time the tubing passage is assembled, the user is forced to place the parts together correctly.

While the water massage aerator apparatus has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressure into water comprising:

a. an elongated tubing passage being shaped for positioning in a bath container and having holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage,

b. a nozzle connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes,

0. said tubing passage comprises a plurality of separate tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections,

d. said tubing passage being composed of a solid plastic material and having a structural configuration to cause the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled, and

. means connected to the tubing passage for securing the tubing passage to the inner surface of the bath container,

. said securing means including suction cups and threaded screws for connecting the suction cups to the plastic tubing passage.

2. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes rigid coupling units located between the tube sections.

3. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the coupling units and tube sections are integrally formed into a one-piece structure and the separate tube sections are slip fit into the coupling units.

4. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the holes in the tubing passage are laterally displaced throughout the entire tubing passage.

5. A water message aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the holes in the tubing passage have a capacity to allow all of the air from the air supply to pass freely into the interior of the bath container.

6. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle has a divergent opening for connecting to a hose member that carries the air under pressure.

7. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes contact surfaces located on said tube section connecting means.

8. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes two U-shaped tube sections.

9. A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressure into water comprising:

a. an elongated tubing passage including two U- shaped tube sections and being shaped for positioning in a bath container and having holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage,

b. a nozzle connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes,

c. said tubing passage comprises a plurality of separate tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections,

d. said tubing passage having a. structural configuration to cause the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled, and

e. means connected to the tubing passage for securing the tubing passage to the inner surface of the bath container.

10. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said tube section connecting means includes rigid coupling units located between the tube sections.

11. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the holes in the tubing passage are laterally displaced with respect to the nozzle to insure passage of air throughout the entire tubing passage.

12. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the holes in the tubing passage have a capacity to allow all of the air from the air supply to pass freely into the interior of the bath container.

13. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the securing means includes suction cups connected to the tubing passage.

14. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the nozzle has a divergent opening for connecting to a hose member that carries the air under pressure.

15. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes contact surfaces located on said connecting means. 

1. A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressurE into water comprising: a. an elongated tubing passage being shaped for positioning in a bath container and having holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage, b. a nozzle connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes, c. said tubing passage comprises a plurality of separate tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections, d. said tubing passage being composed of a solid plastic material and having a structural configuration to cause the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled, and e. means connected to the tubing passage for securing the tubing passage to the inner surface of the bath container, f. said securing means including suction cups and threaded screws for connecting the suction cups to the plastic tubing passage.
 2. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes rigid coupling units located between the tube sections.
 3. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the coupling units and tube sections are integrally formed into a one-piece structure and the separate tube sections are slip fit into the coupling units.
 4. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the holes in the tubing passage are laterally displaced with respect to the nozzle to insure passage of air throughout the entire tubing passage.
 5. A water message aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the holes in the tubing passage have a capacity to allow all of the air from the air supply to pass freely into the interior of the bath container.
 6. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle has a divergent opening for connecting to a hose member that carries the air under pressure.
 7. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes contact surfaces located on said tube section connecting means.
 8. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes two U-shaped tube sections.
 9. A water massage aerator bath apparatus for injecting air under pressure into water comprising: a. an elongated tubing passage including two U-shaped tube sections and being shaped for positioning in a bath container and having holes spaced longitudinally along the tubing passage, b. a nozzle connected to the tubing passage to conduct air under pressure to the tubing passage and through the spaced holes, c. said tubing passage comprises a plurality of separate tube sections and means to easily connect and disassemble the separate tube sections, d. said tubing passage having a structural configuration to cause the tube sections to fit together with the same orientation each time the apparatus is assembled, and e. means connected to the tubing passage for securing the tubing passage to the inner surface of the bath container.
 10. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said tube section connecting means includes rigid coupling units located between the tube sections.
 11. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the holes in the tubing passage are laterally displaced with respect to the nozzle to insure passage of air throughout the entire tubing passage.
 12. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the holes in the tubing passage have a capacity to allow all of the air from the air supply to pass freely into the interior of the bath container.
 13. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the securing means includes suction cups connected to the tubing passage.
 14. A water massage aerator bAth apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the nozzle has a divergent opening for connecting to a hose member that carries the air under pressure.
 15. A water massage aerator bath apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the structural configuration of the tubing passage includes contact surfaces located on said connecting means. 